Smog Check (a little rant) now = referee center

[86 911]

I noticed on the DMV papers that my '76 911 (with a '78 engine) needs to be smogged. The car is registered as a '76 and I bought the car as a '76 with the later engine already installed by a P.O. Anyway, today I go down to get smog tested at a shop and I mention the car has a '78 engine - big mistake! The guy at the shop said my car needs to be looked at by a Referee Center and approved before it gets smogged! Ahhh! The car is pretty well pieced together from newer Porsches anyway (newer transmission, engine, interior, body panels), but for some reason all of this work provides no documentation or approval by "the law" from the previous owner! WTF!!! Even worse, I bought the car knowing no history of it before '95. I'm hoping that the engine will pass both the referee and smog. BTW, what does the referee center do to the engine? Does anyone know of a referee center in the Bay Area?
Thanks (pissed at the P.O.)

[widebody911]

BTDT

At least he didn't say "I am not knowing why you are having two distributors! Nooo, that is not stock!"

Go here: http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/StdPage.asp?Body=/Geninfo/Publications/Engine_Change_Guidelines-Jan_1994.htm

They will look the car over and check to make sure that it has all of the smog gizmos apppropriate to a 1978 engine, and then dyno smog it like normal.

Next time keep your mouth shut!

[rrpjr]

Is it possible just to go to another center, where they don't know nuttin', and where you say nuttin'?

[86 911]

Thanks for the link and the info, Thom. Actually I forgot to mention that I did go to another station and kept my mounth shut, but their equipment showed a different setup because they were reffering to the 2.7 litre (the original engine), but the 3.0 is different and would not work with 2.7 guidelines for smog checking. I just want to avoid all hassle and "get it done right the first time". Keeping my mouth shut was a waste of a good hour today.

[Don Plumley]

I've got the referee process dialed in. From my post on the 993 forum

If you fail a test in this manner, the center is supposed to give you the number of the smog referee. Or if you are bold like me:

I found the phone number on the DMV site, called, and set an appointment. I mean, this is a State agency and a human answered the phone after 1 minute, and I had an appointment within 24 hours. She asked why I needed to see a referee, and I indicated that some 96 models have difficulty with the readiness codes. It gets better, the fee is $30 for the inspection plus 8.25 for the certificate. This is about half of the normal price.

The referee is at the local Junior College. He was non-plussed that I didn't have a failed smog test result. Procedurally, I should have paid for an inspection, failed it due to no readiness codes, then asked for the appointment. Well, I was there anyway and was pretty clear on the problem - I offered to take it somewhere and fail the test - but he decided to test the car.

And test it they did. I mean an hour of looking, poking, prodding. Somebody owes my car dinner.

Result: Smog Certificate.

Let me know if I can be of any help.

Don

[snowman]

An engineer friend of mine put a fuel injected engine in an early car, about a 1974 model. Passed smog hands down, but not the visual. NO way. Couldn'r have a late model engine in an early car, just dosen't pass. Those know nothing bureaucrats caused him at least 2 years hastle for an engine that was clearly better than any early one. Sense, no, no way. Its NOT about smog, but control.

[red-beard]

25 years and SMOG exempt! And that is only in 3 Cities in Texas...The rest don't know what a SMOG test is!

[singpilot]

Two word answer.

Rural Nevada.

[Moses]

Matt, has your smog guy communicated with the DMV that you need to see a referee? If he has not, you're better off looking for a blind smog guy who will pass your visual inspection.

A trip to the referee is NOT a slam dunk.

[legion]

I love living in the corn. Half my friends drive cars with gutted cats.

[lendaddy]

A what check now?

[Dantilla]

My 944 passes smog here with no cat!

My 911 is older than 30 years, so no more smog tests on that car.

[Jims5543]

My RX-7 would prompt them to pull a gun and shoot me on the spot. I even get black flagged on the track due to all the smoke it makes.

Thank god there are no smog tests here in Florida.

[legion]

Don't you run premix on it?

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by legion
Don't you run premix on it?

Premix and I run the Motec tuned to a 10:1 A/F across the powerband. Its a rare moment when I see 12:1 to 13:1.

It gets 10 MPG city and 18 MPG Hwy. At track days I am in the 3-4 MPG. Not a good car for an endurance race.

[Tobra]

Smog testing is why I now have a 1974 instead of a '79. The whole thing is a scam to generate $$ for the state to mis-spend. Good luck. Next time, try mailing the payment in immediately, with no smog inspection. They forgot to make me get it on a vehicle when I did that, but will probably catch it next time

[86 911]

You lucky out of state guys....
I just got an appointment set up at Las Positas College Auto Shop in Livermore for tomorrow, so I'll see how that goes. Hopefully the car will pass. Any last words of advice?

[slodave]

Hand him a bottle of booze under the table, or a wad of cash. Never been in your shoes. No advice, just sarcasm.

Good luck.

Dave

[Don Plumley]

My guy was dead-nuts serious. If your guy is like that, I'd suggest you address him politely, with basic facts (no opinons, rants, whining) and then let him do his job. He's probably heard it all before.

Good luck and let us know how it went.

[slodave]

On a more serious note... What happens after you pass? Do you get a plaque for the engine compartment or some sort of certificate that you need to bring for future smog checks?

Dave